yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Nexus 5 General] jd1639:
It's so easy to root the n5. Why is everyone worried about losing root

Sent from my Nexus 5
[Nexus 5 General] Anderson2:
Because newbies use toolkits (instead of adb and fastboot) and these often create difficulties, especially driver problems
[Nexus 5 General] SketchyStunts:
So, when i initially got my device, i made a nandroid of the unrooted stock ROM. I could go back to this & do scenario 1, correct?
[Nexus 5 General] vin4yak:
The ROM would be stock but not the recovery. You will need to flash the stock recovery and then continue with scenario 1.. :)
[Nexus 5 General] SketchyStunts:
too easy, thanks
[Nexus 5 General] VivaErBetis:
Well, to be honest, there is a possibility of having problems with root apps in newer Android versions, as stated by chainfire:

https://plus.google.com/app/basic/s...=EgkIoPqt6urGvAIomM3HhojgvQIwxrbQ3dnivQI4AkAC

It's not a problem with rooting itself (still possible, still easy) but some apps that needs root may stop working...
[Nexus 5 General] metayoshi:
While you bring up a valid case, I don't think the majority of people here are worried about this specific issue. I think it's as simple as this is their first time actually rooting an Android device, so they ask the typical questions of "will I lose root if I accept the OTA" or "how do I keep root after I update".

I don't think anyone asking a question about keeping root knows anything about those commits that went in a long time ago that will potentially mess up some apps that use root to execute from the data partition.
[Nexus 5 General] Pandages:
I've modified the following things:

build.prop

Boot animation

Dalvik+Bionic (Z2)

SuperSU

Recovery (TWRP)

I had the idea to replace my build.prop with the original one, same with dalvik and bionic, and reflash the original recovery using ADB. Would this be enough to get the OTA without doing a complete reflash?
[Nexus 5 General] thesebastian:
If you learn to use fastboot you can go back to stock with 2 commands. One to rewrite /system and the other to rewrite /recovery.

/data won't be touched.

Sent from my Nexus 5
[Nexus 5 General] Pandages:
That's basically what I was thinking (I've done that before), but I don't need to overwrite the flash memory with the same bits. I really just need to replace the changed files.
[Nexus 5 General] Nerminzz:
I am rooted, with Xposed + Gravitybox and removed system apks, I assume I should do it in this order: D2 -> C -> (put SU in survival mode) -> B -> (reflash su). Can anyone comfirm this, not wanna ruin my new Nexus. :good:

I do make a nandroid back-up just in case.
[Nexus 5 General] zekozeko:
Could we just apply ota in this case like we where completely stock (and get unrooted in the process)? Would we lose custom recovery in the process too?

Btw. I don't mind doing it manually, but I'm just curios on learning how the nexus updating works.
[Nexus 5 General] ali262883:
I'm on a custom rom.. Do need to flash stock rom? Or will the roms be updated to 4.4.3?
[Nexus 5 General] bitdomo:
eventually custom roms get updated to 4.4.3 too, but if you dont want to wait for that then go back to stock

Tapatalk-kal küldve az én Nexus 5-el
[Nexus 5 General] ali262883:
No m ready to wait.. Are u sure custom roms will be updated to 4.4.3?
[Nexus 5 General] bitdomo:
because every custom rom got updated from 4.4 to 4.4.2 i am sure develepers will update the custom roms to 4.4.3 as soon as possible

Tapatalk-kal küldve az én Nexus 5-el
[Nexus 5 General] meteora:
what about me

My situation is this:

stock 4.4.2, root, TWRP, Xposed(Delavik), GravityBox, Franco Kernel.

for receiving OTA is it enough to flash stock kernel and uninstall Xposed? or should I do anything else?

p.s.: you may add my scenario to the first post because I think this is the most common un-stock configuration among N5 owners
[Nexus 5 General] Synyster06Gates:
use ADB to flash a custom recovery such as TWRP, and download the SuperSU zip, store it on your phone then install via TWRP.
[Nexus 5 General] ImolaDan:
Hi Mark,

Have you since had the update become available OTA and installed it ok? I'm in almost the same boat, being between scenarios A and B; stock ROM and recovery, unlocked, rooted, but I've also installed Busybox - not sure if that'd make any difference.

With thanks.
[Nexus 5 General] jackpollard:
So, while I wait to reboot, let me tell my tale.

I was rooted, stock rom and recovery. I was gonna wait, but, well just didn't want to. Oh, I also had xposed running.

I ended up loading TWRP and then tried to flash the .zip. No dice. Got the error; /system/bin/app_process.orig is not stock, or something like that. So, thats the file Xposed changes. I'm going to move the stock one back and try again. Hopefully that works.

Update;

Yep, worked like a charm. I flashed the Xposed-Disabler-Recovery.zip and it put back the orig file. Then the patch passed the check and is updating now.
[Nexus 5 General] pork salad:
I'm stock everything and rooted, I'm guessing I can either take the OTA or sideload, then run CF auto root?
[Nexus 5 General] tomei:
Just updated from stock rom with unlocked, rooted, TWRP custom recovery and faux123 kernel. Downloaded from google ota then flashed the ota zip using TWRP in this flash order with multiple zips all at one time:

1. flashed stock kernel

2. flashed ota zip

3. flashed back faux123 kernel

4. flashed update-supersu-v1.80 zip

5. clear davik/cache

6. reboot

Hope it works for others with the same setup. Updated and with root and data intact.

Used this stock kernel

Stock Kernel AOSP Zip for CMW/TWRP
[Nexus 5 General] Ali812:
I'm currently stock ROM but rooted with CWM recovery, only modifications I've made are through xposed modules such as GravityBox, I should be fine by simply following Scenario B, correct?

Don't want to run into issues when installing the OTA!
[Nexus 5 General] El Daddy:
I'm not completely familiar with what Xposed does. If it modifies ANY system files the OTA will not work. If that's the case you'll have to flash the system.img from 4.4

EDIT: or you can try what this user did: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=48179188&postcount=83
[Nexus 5 General] Dreadsteel:
I'm currently stock rom, unlocked boot loader, rooted, stock recovery.

Does that mean i should follow section A?

thanks

---------- Post added at 03:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:07 PM ----------

I'm currently stock rom, unlocked boot loader, rooted, stock recovery.

Does that mean i should follow section A?

thanks
[Nexus 5 General] Ali812:
Just realized I'm deodexed, which gets rid of all .odex files in /system/app, I guess this would mean scenario B is no longer an option for me?
[Nexus 5 General] MANICX100:
Can I update using TWRP?

Hi I have a UK Nexus 5 running original stock firmware, rooted and with TWRP installed can I simply install the OTA via TWRP and keep all my apps and settings.

Does "3) Flash the OTA just like you would a ROM."

Mean wipe all data/ caches beforehand?

I don't think I've modified system files but I have ran Greenify, Adblock Plus, OneGuardPro, Clean Master and Avast! Anti-Virus with root priveleges!
[Nexus 5 General] pinoymutt:
I just flashed the OTA and have xposed. What I did was first revert back to the stock kernel (I was on franco) and then open up the Xposed app -> Framework -> Uninstall -> then reboot.

Let the phone boot up again completed to verify Xposed is not active (any mods you had should not be visible). Then reboot into recovery.

After flashing the OTA and SuperSU in CWM after fully rebooting I went back into the Xposed app (if you uninstalled via the app, it only removes the framework, not the app itself) -> Framework -> Install/Update -> then reboot.

When it rebooted, all the Xposed mods I may were right back as if I had never touched them. I didn't have to reconfigure or rebuild anything.

Hope that helps.

(BTW - I have GravityBox and Greenify modules, and when I reverted, all the settings were intact)
[Nexus 5 General] El Daddy:
Yes. You'll probably want to flash the system.img
[Nexus 5 General] Dreadsteel:
Im in the same boat, gonna side load, then use cf-root and see if that works.
[Nexus 5 General] kbbbkk:
I'm not sure if I truly fit in scenario #2 or #3. I might be in between.

I am stock, with root. I have custom recovery (TWRP) and NO custom kernel.

However I did make two modifications. 1) I modified the DPI in the build.prop file --> Nexus 5 DPI -> make everything smaller? 2) I modified the headphone and speaker volume --> [MOD][GUIDE] Headphone and Speaker Volume Boost for the Nexus 5

So I'm not sure if those two modifications will make be go to scenario #3 or not.

Any help?

Thanks.
[Nexus 5 General] alchimia:
Sorry. What is the difference betweed odexed and deodexed?

Inviato dal mio Nexus 5 con Tapatalk 2
[Nexus 5 General] El Daddy:
Yep, scenario 3 for you.

In a stock ROM all apks are accompanied by an .odex file. People run deodexed Roms so they can make certain modifications.
[Nexus 5 General] jackpollard:
I was in the same boat and had to run the xposed uninstaller then all worked. Then you just go into xposed and click install and all is good.
[Nexus 5 General] kbbbkk:
Thanks!!!
[Nexus 5 General] jackpollard:
You sound good to go. Do a backup of course. I just wiped cache and dalvik then flashed the zip. I did put the supersu zip on my phone and flashed that after, I was not sure if I would lose root. As long as you don't have xposed it sounds like your good to go.
[Nexus 5 General] punticci:
Wait, let me understand please... I have stock rom but custom kernel and recovery...if i flash the stock kernel(where can i find it?), can i flash directly the OTA update?

Inviato dal mio Nexus 5 utilizzando Tapatalk
[Nexus 5 General] vin4yak:
If you have modified system apps to the slightest or even deleted any, you will need to flash the stock system.img and then the kernel(boot.img).. This will make sure you are fully stock... Don't worry, user data will be untouched..
[Nexus 5 General] D.D.P.:
Even losing root access is so incredibly easy to regain. (Google supersu.zip and flash)

---------- Post added at 09:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 PM ----------

But because Xposed actually changes/modifies files, its best to remove prior to any updates or new flashing. Otherwise the chance of bricking is likely.
[Nexus 5 General] meteora:
what if I wait for official OTA files become available online and then flash them manually? should I flash the stock 4.4.2 images before flashing 4.4.3 image files or I can flash them over my current configuration (custom kernel, etc.)
[Nexus 5 General] D.D.P.:
You can flash over current, but it will flash stock kernal so you will have to manually reflash your custom kernal.
[Nexus 5 General] vin4yak:
Yes, you can flash the update via custom recovery but you would still need to remove Xposed and it's modifications...

It's all stated in the OP... Section C..
[Nexus 5 General] D.D.P.:
I'm glad someone else mentioned this. Because xposed modifies file parameters and so fourth, it has to be removed prior to updates.
[Nexus 5 General] meteora:
So, to summarize, I will uninstall xposed, reboot and flash 4.4.3 images from TWRP, right? after that I will have a full stock 4.4.3.

and this wouldn't be a problem:

"NOTE: If you just uninstall Xposed Framework (the app itself), even after a reboot the "app_process" file (in /system/bin) is still the modified one by Xposed Framework, the original file is not restored."
[Nexus 5 General] D.D.P.:
Yes.

And in that event, a soft reset should solve those mod issues.

---------- Post added at 11:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:40 PM ----------

This is strictly my opinion/preference, but I only use twrp on my tablets for purposes of multi platforms. Whereas I use external drives and clouds for my N5's, multiplatform isn't necessary. Again, just my preference :)

Also, as a side note....DB is a horrible battery drain.....
[Nexus 5 General] thesebastian:
You can wait for the Custom ROM update.

But take in mind that the OTA sometimes update many different things like the baseband, the bootloader, etc.

If the custom ROM update only includes a new /system (rom) and new /boot (kernel) partitions, it's recommended to manually update the other partitions after the update.

Sent from my Nexus 5
[Nexus 5 General] D.D.P.:
I read that many UI changes will take effect....
[Nexus 5 General] WettbackMartyr:
I'm gonna go ahead and jump on this and correct it here cause I think you missed what he said. You cannot simply uninstall Xposed and flash the NEW 4.4.3 through recovery right over what you have now. You need to revert to stock first before updating. (Someone already tried to tell you to use fastboot and what to flash. ) If you must use TWRP, but I also recommend fastboot to be clear, then you would want to follow these steps.

*uninstall Xposed

*reboot

*reboot to recovery

*flash stock 4.4.2 ota.zip to revert to stock

*reboot

*reboot to recovery

*flash 4.4.3 update ota.zip

*reboot and enjoy

:)
[Nexus 5 General] D.D.P.:
Here's an example. After uninstalling closed and necessary files, you still have your OS installed. Using a simple recovery you can flash update and reinstall. Its that simple. Using fastboot you're choosing to add steps. I have used this method and its fast and works. All I was doing was offering up help. There are multiple methods, but not all people use fastboot.
[Nexus 5 General] WettbackMartyr:
I get what you're saying but he mentioned modifications to the system and boot images. So he's gonna need to flash the stock ROM of whatever version he's running to become completely stock again. What your telling him to do is flash an Ota update right over what he has now simply after uninstalling Xposed and I'm afraid that simply won't work. Update will fail when it sees modified system and kernel (Franco kernel Modifies 2 system files that need to be reverted by flashing stock system.img or by manually reverting as can be found in Franco's thread).
[Nexus 5 General] D.D.P.:
No, I didn't mean ota update, I'm speaking of .img.

---------- Post added at 05:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:34 AM ----------

But generally speaking, I'll be lazy and save to my cloud, do a full restore and begin from 4.4 anyway. Just depends on where and when I guess...

---------- Post added at 05:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:38 AM ----------

Then again, I am I'm the OTA help-desk thread bwahaha.
[Nexus 5 General] WettbackMartyr:
Ota updates in *.img format can't be flashed in a custom recovery only zips. I'm not sure we're even talking about the same thing anymore. Lol. I'm confused. I was originally addressing [MENTION=1933459]meteora[/MENTION] when he asked about how to go about the update using stock/xposed/frank kernel combo.
[Nexus 5 General] El Daddy:
Just a clarification. The .IMG files are not OTA patches. They are full factory images. And yes, they cannot be flashed via recovery. Only in with fastboot.

Edit: I should also add the OTA.zip needs a specific build to update as it makes a series of patches to existing files. Full factory images overwrite the the partition and can be flashed over any build or ROM.
[Nexus 5 General] D.D.P.:
See.....what caused the confusion was that I was never referring to OTA updates. I simply offered a quick fix. (Not fastboot, not OTA.) That's where the confusion arose.
[Nexus 5 General] WettbackMartyr:
Gotcha :thumbup:
[Nexus 5 General] D.D.P.:
It was my bad. I was in several threads trying to help people out and reply to PM's. So I threw up the easy emergency style fix. I apologize for any confusion to anyone here. Only use the method I posted if you're in a bind :)
[Nexus 5 General] cabbieBot:
I don't think I've taken an OTA in several years, and never on a Nexus. Does the OTA literally download an update.zip to the root of your internal storage memory that could be copied off and distributed? How does that work?
[Nexus 5 General] D.D.P.:
Yes, they exist. But they are generic image files.
[Nexus 5 General] cabbieBot:
Excuse my naivete. So one would download the OTA image file but choose not to reboot/install it. Then where would you look on the N5 to find it and copy it off? Someone then makes a flashable zip of it? My impression was that it was a flashable zip, not an image file.
[Nexus 5 General] D.D.P.:
Well, basically Google designs the OTA update. Its an image file that's basically encoding for the firmware. When an update is released, a zip can be copied similarly to burning a music or DVD disc. (So to speak) However, some hackers have simply released a zip file that contains code that simply merges with the existing image file.
[Nexus 5 General] El Daddy:
This is not correct.

The OTA is downloaded to the /system/cache/ folder not accessible without root. The OTA contains the hashkey we need to know the exact URL of the file. There it can be downloaded and installed using a variety of methods outlined in my OP.

If you do have root it can be copied, distributed and flashed like any .zip.
[Nexus 5 General] D.D.P.:
generic download/copy

This IS not a zip file. Its a copy of the coding. Thus the name of the files. And ability to flash over each other. Root or not. However, flashing these inevitably leads to loss of root access.
[Nexus 5 General] D.D.P.:
(1)b3d1f30762c7ba86c71a00e93a700e58b9977c41.signed-h@mmerhe@d-(KOT)49H-from-(KRT)16M.b3d1f307.tar

---------- Post added at 11:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 AM ----------

But yes, I must be rooted to use the obtained file. OTA I do not.
[Nexus 5 General] El Daddy:
Here are all the OTA updates for Hammerhead: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=

Those are all .zip files directly from Google's server. The same exact file that is downloaded to your phone when initiated.

I get that you're trying to help and that's great. I love when others help out in this thread, but misinformation just makes this confusing for others.
[Nexus 5 General] efrant:
Yes, when you receive (an OTA) notification in your notification area that there is an update ready, and you click on it, it will ask you if you would like to install the update. At this point, the update file is downloaded to your device. If you navigate (root required) to the /cache directory, you will see the zip file there. Any yes, it can be redistributed -- we certainly hope that people post it here so that everyone can update as early as possible. Otherwise, we'd be stuck waiting for the update to roll out to our own devices, which could take hours, or days, or even weeks.
[Nexus 5 General] cabbieBot:
Interesting, thank you. I've never seen a how-to on this so I was curious how the plumbing worked. It'd be nice to see instructions on how to capture an OTA, get that link from the hashkey, and copy it out for distribution...for reference in case anyone here is a lucky recipient of it :) It'd suck if someone who is reading XDA gets the OTA but doesn't know how to get what the dev community needs out of it.
[Nexus 5 General] lulli1:
Here are the factory images

https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#instructions
[Nexus 5 General] jd1639:
Nothing new there

Sent from my Nexus 5
[Nexus 5 General] nikitis:
Hello, New here. I just bought an unlocked Nexus 5 from Google play store. I haven't decided on carrier yet. I'm switching from Verizon to something new. I was one of the last holdouts on their unlimited data plan. My Note 2 was originally unlocked, but the radio on it died, and I had to get a new one, and it came with a locked bootloader. I'm so sick of Verizon's Antics and locking everything down. So I went the Nexus 5 Route cause as I understand it, it's very open to flashing custom roms or doing whatever. The phone itself will work on many carriers. I'm so excited about the idea of openess seeing as how I've been locked down for so long on verizon. I've always managed to custom rom my verizon phones but it's becoming more and more impossible to do, and I do not like that trend.

My questions are, are the OTA updates good? Will they lock down the bootloader or anything like that?

Thanks
[Nexus 5 General] vin4yak:
No, they don't lock down the bootloader. You can OTA irrespective of whether the bootloader is locked or not. But you need to be fully stock before you OTA, otherwise it will break the update.

That being said, unlocking and locking the bootloader is a simple one line command and it doesn't even take a minute..
[Nexus 5 General] lulli1:
Yes I know. We have to wait for Google..... But its the official Firmware site.
[Nexus 5 General] takuhii:
It's the TAMPER flag you have to be careful of though isn't it?? If the TAMPER flag is set to 1 or False (I can't remember which), the OTA won't take either... Will it?
[Nexus 5 General] jd1639:
You'll get the ota irrespective of the tamper flag

Sent from my Nexus 5
[Nexus 5 General] takuhii:
That's good to know, thank you ;)
[Nexus 5 General] bmaster7:
Hello I'm unlocked with stock recovery with superuser installed with the upgraded version that tries to hold root if you take the OTA. Do I need to sideload or can I take the OTA whenever it arrives?
[Nexus 5 General] jd1639:
You can take the ota, but you will lose root. You'll have to re-root after the update. If you have xposed installed you'll have to remove that first

Sent from my Nexus 5
[Nexus 5 General] bmaster7:
Ok . Thanks. So If I am understanding you correctly my 2 options are to take the OTA and then re-root, or sideload the update through ADB and keep root?
[Nexus 5 General] jd1639:
I haven't tried the sideload before but my guess is you'll lose root. But this device is so easy to root I wouldn't worry about it.

Sent from my Nexus 5
[Nexus 5 General] Saqib Nazm:
Thread cleaned up as per OP request as it was going way off-topic, Stay on Topic Lads.

Thanks, have a good day :)
[Nexus 5 General] :
Just to confirm, if there is an OTA for 4.4.3, and I'm on Stock with ElementalX Kernel, and Modifications to just the softkeys (Not using XPosed), I will have to flash back to stock again just to update? What would be my steps? I figured I would lose everything with the flashall script...

I want to ask this now before the 4.4.3 updates come and waves of questions come...
[Nexus 5 General] El Daddy:
Flash the system.img and the boot.img only.

Your data will stay intact.
[Nexus 5 General] :
Just because I'm lazy, if all else fails, theres no other way to update? Like sideloading? I may just stick with a custom kernel and flash the stock one when there's an update..
[Nexus 5 General] jd1639:
Flashing the two image files is easy. It'll take you two minutes to do it

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727
[Nexus 5 General] chand9336:
4.4.3 ota rolling

4.4.3 has a newer baseband and kernel version and it seems like its rolling now heres the ss and is there anyay to pull the ota after updating??i am actually posting this to know if i can ask my friend to pull the ota if there's a way to pull it after updating
[Nexus 5 General] vin4yak:
If you don't mind me asking, is that a ss from your friend's Nexus 5? Or just an image from the leak?

The OTA zip is downloaded in /cache and it can be accessible only if the device is rooted!

- Sent from an IceCold Hammerhead!
[Nexus 5 General] thesebastian:
[MENTION=4823585]chand9336[/MENTION]

Unfortunately, I don't think this will work if he (your friend) already restarted the phone to update it.

However, maybe he can try to downgrade (using the factory image) and receive the OTA again to pickup the url to download the OTA. (It's something pretty easy and fast for a user that already know how to use fastboot, but would be a pain for a regular user).
[Nexus 5 General] efrant:
I think you have a typo in your post: the OTA zip is downloaded to /cache, not /system/cache ;)
[Nexus 5 General] vin4yak:
OMG. Yeah. My bad.. Don't know why I added system... There's not even a folder of that sort... Thanks!

- Sent from an IceCold Hammerhead!
[Nexus 5 General] efrant:
If he has root, he can try looking in the log files in /cache/recovery. Search for "zip" in the text files. It may still show up. Otherwise, what [MENTION=4864772]thesebastian[/MENTION] should work.
[Nexus 5 General] Candy[MAN]:
When did he get this update? Was it just today?
[Nexus 5 General] chand9336:
Its a ss off ss
[Nexus 5 General] andrew2511:
Can you make your friend pull the system? :)